NBA Playoffs: First-Round Matchup Projections
(1) Toronto Raptors vs. (8) Washington Wizards
The Toronto Raptors (59-23) finished first in the Eastern Conference and with the second-best nERD (70.7) and average margin of victory (7.78) in the Association, but no one seems ready to take them seriously as a postseason threat because of past playoff transgressions.
Their wounds from being swept by these very same Washington Wizards (43-39) in 2015 probably still haven't healed, but that doesn't stop our algorithms from projecting this series in their favor with the most lopsided odds of any first-round matchup this year.
| Outcome | (1) Toronto Raptors | (8) Washington Wizards |
|---|---|---|
| Win in 4 | 15.96% | 1.56% |
| Win in 5 | 27.31% | 3.35% |
| Win in 6 | 18.72% | 8.28% |
| Win in 7 | 17.69% | 7.13% |
| Win series | 79.68% | 20.32% |
